Calibrachoa plant name ‘Docalaltidab’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docalaltidab’, characterized by its outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with purple-colored petals with darker purple-colored centers with star-shaped yellow-colored throats; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa parviflora.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOCALALTIDAB’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIORDISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR AND APPLICANT

This application claims priority to a European Community Plant Breeders'Rights application filed on Dec. 12, 2019, application number 2019/2970.There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to theeffective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one ofordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed PlantBreeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa parviflora andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Docalaltidab’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely branching and early-floweringCalibrachoa plants with numerous large and attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2017 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code numberAA16-092046-003, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as codenumber AA-0576, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newCalibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany in May, 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this newCalibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Docalaltidab’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Docalaltidab’ as a new and distinctCalibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large flowers with purple-colored petals with darker        purple-colored centers with star-shaped yellow-colored throats.    -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe female parent selection in flower color as plants of the newCalibrachoa have a larger star-shaped yellow-colored flower throat thanplants of the female parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in flower color as plants of the newCalibrachoa have purple-colored petals with darker purple-coloredcenters with star-shaped yellow-colored throats whereas plants of themale parent selection have violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa Xhybrida ‘Docalaltib’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,345. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Docalaltib’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more compact than plants of        ‘Docalaltib’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Docalaltib’ differ in        flower color as plants of the new Calibrachoa have        purple-colored petals with darker purple-colored centers with        star-shaped yellow-colored throats whereas plants of        ‘Docalaltib’ have light violet and purple violet bi-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Docalaltidab’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘Docalaltidab’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 22-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and undercultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. Duringthe production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C.and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinchedone time three weeks after planting and were twelve weeks old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, Fifth Edition, 2007, except where general terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa parviflora ‘Docalaltidab’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number            AA16-092046-003, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA-0576,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading to trailing and            decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit with about            eight primary lateral branches each with about ten secondary            lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances            branching; dense and full appearance; vigorous growth habit;            moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 20            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 20            cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread of plant).—About 65 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 45 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing            and decumbent.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; glossy.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 144B.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 152C; at the internodes, close to            144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after            flowering, opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.5 mm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;            matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            137A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C;            venation, close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137D; venation, close to 137D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 270 flowers and flower buds per plant; flowers face            upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of            the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about six            weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the            spring throughout the summer in Germany.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 3.8 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Rippled;            semi-glossy. Color: Close to 82B and 82D.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.7 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6.5 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 1.6 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Petal, when opening, upper surface: Distally, close to N80A            and proximally, close to 83A. Petal, when opening, lower            surface: Close to N81C. Petal, fully opened, upper surface:            Distally, close to N81B and proximally, close to 83A;            venation, close to N81B; colors becoming closer to 86B with            development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to            N81C; venation, close to N81C; color becoming closer to 86D            with development. Throat: Star-shaped centers, close to 12A;            venation, close to 83A. Tube: Close to 4C; venation, close            to 83D.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;            sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 9 mm. Sepal            width: About 2.5 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:            Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color: When developing            and fully developed, upper surface: Close to 137C. When            developing and fully developed, lower surface: Close to            137D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close            to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.            Filament length: About 7.4 mm. Filament color: Close to            145C. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal.            Anther color: Close to 13C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 13A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.            Pistil length: About 8.5 mm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style            color: Close to 149B. Stigma diameter: About 0.5 mm. Stigma            shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary            color: Close to 144C. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant:            About 300 per plant. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About            4 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 199C.            Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 40. Length: About 1 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 200A.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain,    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘Docalaltidab’ as illustrated and described.